Australian Cherry Production Guide

1 Australian Cherry Production Guide July 2011 2 This publication has been compiled by Paul James Rural Solutions SA C/- Lenswood Centre Lenswood South Australia 5240 Phone (08) 8389 8800 Mobile 0419 826 956 Fax (08) 8389 8899 E-mail A special acknowledgement is given to Ms Penelope Measham and Ms Penny Domeney from the Tasmanian Institute of Agricultural Research for their contributions to this manual as co authors of the Rain and it s Impacts and the Pest and Diseases sections. The assistance of Ken Tobutt, Infruitec, Stellenbosch, South Africa (formerly East Malling) for information on pollen incompatibility is also gratefully acknowledged. A special acknowledgement is given to Ms Karen Watson and Mr Allan Mayne for their diligent editing of this publication. Other key personnel who assisted with the compilation of this manual are listed in the acknowledgements section.

2 Funding Sources & Collaborative Institutions 3 Disclaimer This publication has been prepared only as a general information Guide for Cherry Production in Australia. Whilst all reasonable care has been taken in the preparation of this document, Rural Solutions SA, the Department of Primary Industries and Resources South Australia, and the crown in the right of South Australia do not accept any liability for any damage caused by, or economic loss arising from reliance upon information contained in this publication. Users should note that the information given is of a general nature and does not necessarily reflect a specific set of industry conditions. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise without the prior permission of Cherry Growers Australia Inc.

3 For any corrections or suggestions on information contained in this publication, please contact Cherry Growers of Australia Inc. 4 Preface By World standards the Australian Cherry Industry is a small produce of cherries but the opportunities for growth in Production and productivity exists. Over the years since Cherry Production commenced Australian growers have been inventive and innovative. At times they have been quick to take up new ideas, research and varieties and at other times they have been world leaders in their craft . The Australian Cherry industry has a mix of older established businesses and some new and at times inexperienced operators. No matter when growers entered the business of growing, harvesting and marketing cherries the one constant has been the desire to learn more about their craft . The new edition of the Australian Cherry Production Guide is now the most up to date and practical Guide for past, current and future Cherry growers to assist them in understanding and improving their craft.

4 The Australian Cherry Production Guide has been developed over many years starting with some work undertaken by Wayne Boucher from Tasmania. This information was then used as the basis of the Cherry Manual produced by the Cherry Growers of South Australia. Through some funding from the Australian Government, Cherry Growers of Australia Inc has been able to build on the sound base of this past work, expand the contribution of information from specific researchers and mould the information into a truly national manual. The work undertaken by Paul James, Senior Horticultural Consultant from Rural Solutions SA should not be under-estimated. The time and effort to write and re-write sections, add new information and format this into a most useable tool has been immense. All endeavors have been made to make this manual as inclusive of relevant and accurate information that could be found within Australia and across the world.

5 The team of experts that have collaborated on this manual are most impressive. Support from growers from within South Australia and across Australia has also been most valuable. The Australian Cherry Industry is indebted to all who have contributed their time, skills and knowledge to the tasks allotted within the Production of the Australian Cherry Production Guide . The Manual is a tool to be used by all Australian Cherry growers in the Production of high quality cherries sought by consumers with Australia and all points of the globe. Most importantly this is not a static document because as of today some of this information has been superseded by new and more relevant information. The challenge for Cherry Growers of Australia Inc is to maintain this document as a fluid document ensuring that it is regularly up-dated and kept current. The Australian Cherry Production Guide is one of the last components of the Australian Cherry Industry toolkit.

6 All involved should be proud of the work undertaken to achieve such a comprehensive and useable document. I commend the 2010 Australian Cherry Production Guide to ALL Australian Cherry Growers. Use it to become the best Cherry growers in the International markets. Tim Reid - Cherry Growers Australia Inc. April 2010 Trevor M Ranford CEO, Cherry Growers Australia until December 2010. Simon Boughey CEO, Cherry Growers Australia from January 2011. 5 Acknowledgements The following people and organisations are sincerely and gratefully acknowledged for their contributions to this publication. Grower Reference Group Simon Cornish Andrew Flavell Kym Green John Jeffs David Leonard Nick Noske Ian Sparnon Michael Stafford Grant Wotton Allan Mayne Co-authors The invaluable assistance of Penelope Measham and Penny Domeney from the Tasmanian Institute of Agricultural Research is sincerely acknowledged for their contributions to this publication as co-authors of the Rain and it s Impacts section and the Pest and Diseases section.

7 Contributors National Simon Boughey CEO Cherry Growers Australia Inc from January 2011 Trevor Ranford CEO - Cherry Growers Australia Inc to December 2010 Elisa Tseng Horticulture Australia Ltd New South Wales Jeremy Bright New South Wales Department of Primary Industries Sean Brindle New South Wales Department of Primary Industries Queensland Clinton McGrath Queensland Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation Dougal Russell Queensland Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation South Australia Darren Graetz South Australian Research & Development Institute Danny Le Feuvre Australian Bee Services Brian Hughes Rural Solutions SA Tasmania Anna Steinhauser Fruit Growers Tasmania / Cherry Growers of Australia Inc Karen Watson Fruit Growers Tasmania / Cherry Growers of Australia Inc Nick Hansen Cherries Tasmania Orchards Andrew Hall Top Qual Victoria Tony Allen Victorian Cherry Association Bas van den Ende Advanced Horticulture Cliff Reisborough CherryHill Orchards Ken Gauldion Horticultural Advisor Western Australia Max Arif, Cherry Growers Association of Western Australia Inc.

8 Martine Combret Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia International Dr Kenneth Tobutt Infruitec Stellenbosch, South Africa 6 CONTENTS Disclaimer .. 3 Preface .. 4 CONTENTS .. 6 INTRODUCTION .. 12 Australian Cherry Production .. 13 Overview global context .. 13 Australian Cherry Production and Consumption .. 14 CHARACTERISTICS OF Australian Cherry Production .. 15 Cherry Production in New South Wales .. 16 Cherry Production in Victoria .. 18 Cherry Production in South Australia .. 20 Cherry Production in Tasmania .. 23 Cherry Production in Western Australia .. 25 Cherry Production in Queensland .. 27 CHARACTERISTICS OF SWEET CHERRIES .. 29 CLIMATIC REQUIREMENTS .. 30 Climate and its Impact on Cherry Production .. 30 Introduction.

9 30 Temperature Summation .. 30 Climatic Conditions Needed for Commercial Cherry Production .. 31 Rainfall .. 31 Temperature .. 31 Winter 31 Chilling Requirements .. 32 Calculation of Chilling .. 32 Spring Temperatures .. 33 34 Maximum and Minimum Temperatures .. 34 Temperature Assessments .. 35 Growing Season Climatic Conditions .. 35 Wind .. 35 Production ASPECTS OF SWEET CHERRIES .. 37 Planning Your Orchard .. 37 Introduction .. 37 Orchard Profitability .. 39 Site Selection .. 39 Regional Location .. 39 Rain Susceptibility .. 40 Soil Drainage .. 40 Soil Type and Fertility .. 40 Topography .. 40 Water Quality .. 40 Other Factors to Consider .. 41 Varieties (Cultivars) .. 42 Variety Descriptions and Trends .. 44 Early Maturing Regions .. 44 Newer early season varieties .. 45 Mid - Late Maturing Regions .. 46 Australian Bred Varieties .. 49 Future releases.

10 50 7 Rootstocks .. 51 Factors to consider in selecting a Cherry rootstock .. 51 Rootstocks currently used in Australia .. 56 Dwarfing and Semi-dwarfing rootstocks .. 57 Flowering, Pollination and Fruit 60 Flowering of Sweet Cherries .. 60 Flower Structure .. 60 Floral Initiation .. 61 Cultural factors influencing floral initiation .. 61 Factors that affect flower development .. 61 Pollination and Fruit Set .. 63 Pollen Sources .. 63 Pollen Incompatibility Groups .. 63 Flowering times .. 66 Providing for Pollination .. 67 Placement of Pollenisers .. 67 Bees .. 69 Strength and number of hives .. 70 Grower assessments of hive activity .. 71 Timing of Hive introduction .. 72 Using introduced hives .. 72 Warning .. 73 Hive removal .. 73 Chemical spray applications and 73 Useful websites .. 74 Effective pollination period .. 74 Plant nutrition and fruit set.